Monks Wood, North Shields Surface Attenuation

Hello everybody,

We have been working hard in the background developing our proposals following our last customer event that we held back on Valentines day in February of this year. We have taken on board many of the comments we received at that drop in session and from all of your other forms of communication through which you have let us know your issues and concerns.

We have just sent out this week a further letter of invitation to come and join us for an informal chat regarding our updated proposals at which you can let us know what you think and how you can influence our path going forward. By all means if you can not make that session then you can still be involved by telephoning NW, email, social media or through this portal, whichever is the most comfortable and convenient method for you.

Hopefully this portal will help spread the word to a wider audience than we have been able to with a letter drop to our customers adjacent to our proposed works or affected by flooding in the area.

I include below our press release of this week which gives details of the event and which I hope you find informative and if it interests you, encourages you to come and speak with us.

Kind Regards

Ashley

Green scheme for Monks Wood

Residents in North Tyneside are being invited to find out more about a green scheme which will help to reduce the risk of flooding.

Northumbrian Water is working with North Tyneside Council to reduce flood risk in the Monks Wood area of North Shields, as part of the water company's Rainwise initiative.

The initiative involves managing the amount of rainwater that enters the sewers to help take some of the pressure off the network and using sustainable drainage solutions, or ‘SuDS,' where possible.

SuDS include solutions such as basins - landscaped areas which are seeded with wild flowers and a variety of trees and shrubs to manage rainwater naturally. They're better for the environment and can help to create valuable wildlife habitats.

Northumbrian Water is looking at opportunities to build a series of basins off Beach Road, which would temporarily store water during heavy storms, before slowly releasing it back into the sewer network after the storm subsides.

The proposal for the Monks Wood project also includes the construction of a new sewer pipe in the verge off Beach Road, from Whitehouse Primary School to Tynemouth Swimming Pool. Work will be carried out by Northumbrian Water's supply partners, Esh-MWH.

Customers are invited to find out more about the project on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at Pearey House, Preston Park, North Shields, NE29 9JR between 3.00pm and 7.00pm.

Northumbrian Water's Project Manager, Ashley Ferguson, said: "We know how devastating sewer flooding can be and we want to reduce the chances of it happening in future.

"To try and help with our efforts, we're using sustainable drainage systems wherever we can, as they can help to slow the flow of rainwater into the sewers and reduce the pressure on the network. This then helps to reduce sewer flooding and resulting environmental pollution.

"We want the Monks Wood project to be right for everyone, so we are working with the council and encouraging residents to come along to our meeting so that they can find out more and help us to shape the final design."

Cllr Carole Burdis, North Tyneside Council's Cabinet member for Community Safety and Engagement, said: "As a council we are committed to reducing the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in the borough.

"We are pleased to be working with our partner Northumbrian Water on this important project to protect people in the Monks Wood area and would urge anyone interested in finding out more to come along to the information event."

Customers can also follow the project on Northumbrian Water's Community Portal at www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk and by following the link to the Monks Wood page.

For further media information, call 0191 3015678.

Notes to Editors: Northumbrian Water Limited supplies 2.7 million customers in the North East with both water and sewerage services, trading as Northumbrian Water, and 1.8 million customers in the South East with water services, trading as Essex & Suffolk Water.

In 2017 Northumbrian Water was named Utility of the Year at the Utility Week Awards, for the second time in four years. The company has followed this up in 2018 by winning the UK Excellence Award at the British Quality Foundation (BQF) UK Excellence Awards, and Water Company of the Year at the Water Industry Achievement Awards. Northumbrian Water also received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for sustainable development for a second time in 2014, which is accredited for five years. This recognises the company as a business which benefits the environment, society and the economy.

Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham DH1 5FJ. Telephone 0345 6047468. Website: www.nwl.co.uk